Printing press and method of printing therewith



PRINTING PRESS AND METHOD OF PRINTING THEREWITH v w. F. GRUPE Dec. 21, 1943.

Filed Sept. 23, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR- WILLIAM F. CRUPE ATTORNEY.

Dec. 21, 1943. w. F. GRUPE 2,337,386

PRINTING PRESS AND METHOD OF PRINTING THEREWITH Filed Sept. 23, 1940 4 Sheet.=-Sheet 2.

Y J INVENTOR. WILLIAM F. GRUPE A TTORIV E Y.

Dec. 21, 1943. I w RUP 2,337,386

PRINTING PRESS AND METHOD OF PRINTING THEREWITH Filed Sept. 23, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 75 61,1 .Mn o Q6 70 4 G 43 '42 4/ Z3 4 5O 4-/5 6-- /6 j I 3 FIG. 3

' 03 M9 //5 m W FIGS :6 /6 v INVENTOR. FIG. 7 BY WILLIAM F. GRUPE ATTORNEY.

'ec. 21, 1943. w. F. GRUPE 2,337,386

PRINTING PRESS AND METHOD OF PRINTING THEREWITH Filed Sept. 25,-1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIGH INVENTOR. WILLIAM F. GRUPE A TTORNEY.

Patented Dec. 21,, .1943

I UNITED STATE rnm'rmc mass AND METHOD or PRINTING 'rnnnnwrrn William F. Grupc, Lyndhurst, N. .L, assignor to Interchemical Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation 01' Ohio Application September 23, 1940, Serial No. 357 339 This invention relates to printing presses and aims to provide an improved typographic printperature for melting and spreading out an even film of ink,.said cylinders having progressively ing press which is particularly adaptedfor use with thermoplastic or hot melt inks.

There are now available for use in printing" thermoplastic or hot melt inks which are pigmented printing materials of such a character that at normal room temperatures (about 25 C.) v they aresolid' but may be converted to liquid condition by heating to an elevated temperature. Such inks have been printed on webs and sheets of paper and other base materials both typographically and by gravure, particularly in the roduction of spot carbon paper and thermoplastic transfer sheets; but, due to their physical characteristics and properties when in a liquid state, many difiiculties are encountered, especially in typographic printing. For example, hot melt inks set by cooling, usually caused by contact with the cold paper, and the ink film therefore penetrates very little into the Paper and produces an embossed effect; because of this and the high solid content of such inks, it is necessary to apply an ink fllmwhich is considerably thinner than that applied with conventional typographic inks, and the usual typographic ink distribution system does not lend itself well to this. Furthermore, the fact that hot melt inks'must be heated for application means that the ink distribution system must beheated, and this creates objectionable working conditions in the press room and, in addition, causes many troubles in the rubber or composition ink distributing rollers.

I have discovered that most, if not all, of ,the known difiiculties encountered in the typographic printing of hot melt inks may be eliminated and such inks may be printed typographically withresultsand operating conditions that are comparable to those encountered in conventional typographic printing; and I have-devised an improved typographic printing'press with which I these results may be accomplished. a

In accordance with my invention, there is provided an improved printing press in which the usual typographic ink distributing system is entirely eliminated and, in .lieu thereof, an enlarged form roller is employed. Afilm of thermoplasticor hot melt ink of the desired consistency and thickness is applied to the form roller for subsequent application to the plate or printing .cylinder by means of an aligned system outside surfaces thereof. to the desired temas increased surface speeds from the ink inserting end to the form rollerso as to cause a stretching or thinning of the filmof thermoplastic ink to the desired thickness in its transfer from one cylinder to the next. Due to the aligned arrangement of the cylinders forming the ink applying system of my invention, the entire heated portion of the printing press may be suitably insulated from theremainder of the press. An-

other feature of my invention consists in cooling the form roller so that the film of hot melt ink of the desired thickness transferred thereto by the adjacent metal applying roller will tend partially to set on the surface of the form roller and be subsequently remelted by contact with the heated printing cylinder and transferred to the type for application to the web or sheet of paper. The ink remaining on the form roller after contact with the plate cylinder is suitably spread and distributed over the entire form roller surface by means of a heated doctor blade, bar or roller cooperating with said form roller.

The above and other features and objects of my invention will become apparent upon con-.

'sideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view 'of one form of printing press embodying the essential features of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, with certain portions broken away and in section, of the printing press shown in Fig. 1; v

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view oi the printing press shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of a modified form ,of printing press embodying the essential feament shown in Fig. 1, and lllustrating-partlcularly the-manner of feeding the web therethrough' and insulating the. heated ink applying cyliners; q

Fig. 10 is a a schematic side elevational View of a modified form of printing press embodying my invention and particularly adapted for the print ing of twocolors; and

Fig. 11 is a schematic view, similar to Fig. 10,

showing a one-color printing press arrangement.

in which the ink applying cylinders are reduced in number.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be 021- served that one form of printing press embodying 'the essential features of myinvention, may comner. These side frame members l6, l6, which may be of any suitable construction and in the present instance consist of elongated horizontally disposed bars of steel, form a support for a reel of the material to be printed, said reel I! being provided with a shaft I8 journalled in a bracket 20 attached to the top side of the horizontally disposed side frame members IS. A web W (Fig. 9) is fed from the supply reel ll beneath a feeding and guiding roller 2| having a shaft 22 suitably journalled in bearings 23 mounted in the side frames 6. Feed roller 2| is mounted in cooperative engagement with a suitable impression cylinder 24 having a resilient outside surface or sheath 25and a shaft 26 which is similarly journalled in bearings provided in the side frames l6. As shown in Fig. 9, the web W passes from beneath the feeding roller 2| over and around the resilient surfaced impression cylinder. 24 and is returned to a suitable rewind roller 21 where it may be rewound as the printing takes'place. This rewind roll 21 is provided with a shaft 28 which is journalled in suitable bearings provided in brackets 30 attached to the top edge of the side frames I6, l6.

cooperatively mounted with respect to the impression. cylinder 24 is a printing or plate cylinstance, is a hollow cylinder having an outside inder 32 which, in the form shown in the present typographic printing surface 33, end walls 34 and a hollow shaft 35 joumalled in suitable bearlngs provided in the side frames. l5, l6. This printing cylinder 32 is preferably heated, in a manner to be described more fully hereinafter,

' to a temperature .somewhat'above the melting stantially the same diameter as the printing cylinder 32 and'receives its ink from a cooperatively mounted metal cylinder 4| which forms ink is deposited between the rollers 42 and 43 it will be initially milled and spread over the surfaces thereof and transferred from the surface of the roller 42 to the roller 4|. Since these three rollers rotate at increasing surface speeds from left to right and there is a pressure contact between them, the amount of ink on the cylinder 43 will be greater than that on the surface of the cylinder 42 since the latter is rotating at a higher speed and tends to spread out the film.in a well known manner. The same action takes place in transferring the ink from the surface of the cylinder 42 to the cylinder 4| upon which an even thinner film will bedeposited. It will be understood that by increasing the number of the rollers in the ink mill, the film of ink may be reduced to substantially any desired thickness within practical operating limits.

As best shown in Fig. 1, the bearings for all of the cylinders 2|, 24, 32, 31, 4|, 42 and 43 are slidably mounted in the side frames I6, l6 which are provided with suitable guideways 44 for this purpose. The distance between the rotating surfaces of all cylinders may be regulated and adjusted by means of suitable set screws 45 mounted between the bearings thereof, and all 'of said cylinders may be. maintained in operative position in the guideways 44 of the side frames I6, I6 by means of a large screw 46 engaging the bearing of the cylinder 43 and a: similar screw 41 engaging the bearings of the feeding cylinder 2|. One end of the shaft for each of the cylinders projects through its associated bearing and beyond the side frame I6 and is provided at the end thereof with a gear 48. Each gear 48 meshes with a suitable helical gear 50, and all of the gears 50 are mounted on a shaft 5| which is rotated at the desired speed in any convenient manner, such as by means of a motor 52 and cooperating elt driving means 53. All of the gears 48 and 0 are, in the. present instance, identical in size and construction so that the shafts of all of the cylinders associated therewith will be rotated at the same number of revolutions per unit of time. Suitable gearing 54, which preferably includes a conventional slipping clutch mecha-.

nism, may be provided for rotating the rewind roll 21 at the desired speed.

When thermoplastic or hot melt inks are em- Y ployed in my improved apparatus as is contemplated by this invention, it has been found necessary to maintain the cylinders or rollers with which the thermoplastic inks contact in a heated condition, and preferably heated to a temperature above the melting point of the particular thermoplastic inks; For the purpose of providing the desired thermal treatment'for each of the cylinders 24, 32, 31, 4|, 42 and 43, the shafts thereof are .all hollow and constructed in the manner indicated in Fig. 2where the cylinders 32 and 31 are shown in section., All of the holIoW shafts are identical in construction and, as shown o in Fig. 2, the-shaft 40 extends through its associated bearing 58 and is connected to a nipple 51 provided on a conventional rotary joint 58 havingan'inlet opening 60 and an outlet 6|. Fluid for providing the desired thermal treatment is 5 pumped through the inlet 60, rotary Joint 53,

nipple 51, and into the hollow shaft 40. A plu rality of openings 62 are provided in the hollow shaft and the fluid passes through-these openings' into the hollow cylinder 31 where it'cir'culates and transfers'heat to the wallsthereof.

After circulating through the cylinder, the thermal treating fluid passes through apertures 63 provided in the other end of the hollow shaft 40 and progresses through said shaft to the end of 76 an outlet pipe or conduit 54 which is concentriin a cool condition so as to cause the cally mounted in the hollow shaft 40 and sealed from the openings 62 by means of a plug 65. This outlet pipe 64 passes through the rotary joint 58 and nipple 51 and is connected with the outlet 6| so that the fluid, after circulating through the associated cylinder, may be passed back to the source of supply or to one of the other cylinders, as desired.

In order to supply a heating fluid to the cylinders of the apparatus which are to be heated, and to circulate said fluid through the cylinders in the manner described above, a fluid such as oil or water may be pumped from a supply tank 66 by means of a pump 81 to a suitable heater 68 where said fluid is heated to the desired temperature (see Fig. 3). From the heater 68 the heated fluid passes upwardly through a conduit Hi to a flexible tube II which is connected with the inlet of the rotary joint for the printing cylinder 32. The heated fluid circulates through the printing cylinder 32 and is passed by means of a conduit 12 from the outlet of the rotary joint for the printing cylinder to the inlet associated with the cylinder 4|. A conduit I3 connnects the outlet for the cylinder 4| with the inlet for the cylinder 42 and a conduit 14 connects the outlet of the cylinder 42 with the inlet of the cylinder 43 so that the heating'fluid may be circulated from one cylinder to the next. Upon passing through the.

cylinder 43, the fluid may be returned to the supply tank by means of a conduit 15 connected with the outlet for the cylinder 43 and the supply tank. In this manner, the heating fluid in its most heated condition first circulates through the printing cylinder and then, respectively, through the cylinders 4|, 42 and although the circulation may be fast enough to maintain all of said cylinders in substantially the same heated condition, the printing cylinder 32 will have its surface at the highest temperature and the cylinder 43, which is the last through which the fluid circulates, will be at the lowest temperature. It will of course be understood that separate circulating systems and controls may be vent smudging of any first applied impression in the event that the apparatus is being use for second side printing. By coolingthe form roller 31, the tendency for deterioration of the resilient surface 38 thereof is greatly reduced, and, if the cooling is sufficient. in accordance with my invention, the film of thermoplastic ink transferred to the resilient surface'38 from 'the cylinder 4| will be caused to set or harden, at least partially, so that upon'contact with the printing cylinder, which is heated to a temperature above the melting point Of the ink, a remelting takes place as the thermoplastic ink is transferred from the form roller to the type. I have found that such operation of the apparatus produces an accurate control of the film thickness applied to the type and provides an effective control of the consistency and viscosity of the ink in its transfer from the form roller to the type on the printing cylinder.

It will be understood that during operation of the apparatus the outer surface of the rubber form roller 31 will become heated as it contacts the plate cylinder 24 and the steel applying roller 4|. However, dueto the transfer of heat to the cooling fluid circulating throughthe form roller, the surface 38 thereof is at all times cooler than the cylinders 4|. or 32 and may be maintained sufliciently cool to prevent the ink from flowing on the surface of the form roller by a chilling of the ink to a point just beneath the flow point and at which it is plastic. As this solid or semi-solid ink surface contactsthe heated plate cylinder, it will bemelted out in the 43 with the result that. j

required amounts and transferred to the type.

In the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2- and 3,

' the temperature of the steelcylinder 4| and the provided for the printing cylinder and the cylin-' ders 4|, 42 and 43, if desired.

It will be noted that the form roller 31 and the impression cylinder 24, which are also pro vided with means for circulating. a thermal treating fluid therethrough, are not included in the heating system described above. although there may be occasions when it would be desired to heat one or both of the cylinders 24 and 31 during certainuses of the'apparatus, I have found that in normal typographic printing with thermoplastic materials, it is preferable to cool both of said cylinders. For this purpose a cooling fluid, such as cold water or brine, may be fed from a suitable source of supply (not shown) through a conduit 16 connected to the inlet of the rotary joint associated with theimpression cylinder and. circulated through said cylinder and conducted by means of a conduit 'I'l from the outlet for the cylinder 24 to the inlet 60 of the rotary joint 58 for theform roller 31. Upon circulation through the form roller 31 the cooling fluid may be conducted through a conduit 18 back to the source of supply, or it may be manner. By cooling the impression cylinde in the manner just described, the side of the web which is not being printed will be maintained printed material to setsubstantially immediately upon application to the web; such-cooling will also prepressure between the surface thereof and the resilient surface 38 of the form roller may be adjusted so that the unused ink on the form roller will meet the ink fllm on the applying roller 4| and be blended therewith and leveled out. such action being further facilitated by the difference in surface speeds of these two rollers. However, I prefer to efiect the wiping out and spreading of the ink remaining on the form roller by means of a heated doctor bar or roller which will be described mor fully hereinafter.

In operation of. the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 3, chips or blocks of thermoplastic ink are placed in the nip between the rollers and 43 where it will be melted by contact with the heatedsurfaces of said rollers. To prevent the molten thermoplastic ink from flowing over the ends of said cylinders, I have provided a pair of disposed of in any desired 1 ends guards 80, such as are used in th conventional ink mills, and adjustably supported them in any suitable manner in the nip between the rollers 42 and 43, such as by means of a supporting bracket 8| attached to the side frames l6, "5. As the ink melts, a fllm will be deposited upon the cylinder 43. Depending upon the spacing between the surfaces of the cylinders 42 and 43 and the difference. insurface speeds between them, the film on the surface of the cylinder 43 will be stretched out or reduced in thickness and transferred to the surface, of the roller 42. A similar 'actiont'akes place in transferring the ink film from the surface of the roller 42 to the roller 4|. further and t0 the finally desired thickness in-its transfer from thesurface of the rolleri -4| to the cooled form roller surface 31 where its viscosity is increased and from which it is subsequently The ink film may be thinned still .xasa'aase be understood that by increasing the number of steel spreading and applying rollers 4|, 42 and 43, a film of any desired thickness may be transferred to the surface of the form roller 31; and

- the arrangement of said cylinders may be made such that the ink ingredients, such as pigment, vehicles and the'like, may be inserted in the ink mill portion of the apparatus and ground and then transferred in the desired fllm from roller to roller and to the heated type.

Referring now to Fig. 9, where the Figs. 1 to 3 arrangement of the. apparatus is shown schematically, it will be noted that the web W is fed from thesupply roll II about the feed roller 2| and impression cylinder 24 and then between the printing and impression cylinders where it receives the ink that has been transferred to the heated type in the manner described above.

, Due to the fact that the web is in a cooled condition as compared with the heated ink and the impression cylinder 24 is cooled by circulating a -'cooling medium therethrough, the temperature of the heated ink will be lowered immediately to a point where'the ink will solidify or set so that it'may be passed to the rewind roll 21 and there rewound without offset. When operating at high speeds, it may be found desirable to preheat the web somewhat and to provide a supplementary cooling roller beneath the impression cylinder 24.

It will also be notedin Fig. 9 that the entire printing and inking apparatus, which is, disposed in a substantiallyhorizontal plane,is housed in a suitable housing 83 constructed of a suitable heat insulating material. This housing may take any desired form, that shown comprising a lower wall 94 which extends from beneath the impression cylinder 24 to a point beyond the last steel 'cylinder 43 and is there attached to an end wall 95. A top cover member 89 is hinged by means of a hinge 81 to the top edge of the end wall 95. An upper hinged cover member 99 attached to the right-hand end of the cover 86 and exten .close to or into contact with the web W on th impression cylinder '24 and a similar hinged member 89 in close proximity to the web W as it leaves the impression cylinder and travels toward the rewind roller complete the enclosure which may be positioned in any suitable manner between the side frames so as to'provide asubstantially air-tight housing. The hinge 91 permits the cover 98 to be raised so that inks may be inserted in the nip or fountain between the rollers 42 and 43. By the D11: vision of such a housing 93, the heat generated by the heated plate cylinder 22 and steel cylinders 4|, 42 and 49 will be conflnedeifectively to the region around the press. Aside from increasing the efllciency of the heating of these cylinders, this closure prevents the heat from escaping into the press room where it can create objectionable operating conditions. It will be appreciated that if several of these presses, particularly multicolor presses.

ploy a steel or metal surfaced form roller 92 which, when suitably formed and aligned with respect tothe plate cylinder 9I, will transfer the desired film of ink to the type with alight contact uniform throughout the length of the cylinders and governed by the spacing or pressure between the cylinders 9| and 92. Steel cylinder 93 is of smaller diameter than cylinder 92'so that the latter has a greater surface speed and causes a proper reduction of and spreading of a film of ink overthe surface so that it may be transferred in the desired quantities to the plate. cyl inder. As indicated,- the thermoplastic ink is inserted in the nip between the two steel cylinders 92 and 93. In Fig. 10 I have shown two such printing units, A and B, to illustrate the compactness of a multicolor printing press embodying the features of my invention; The dot and dash'line 94 shows the simplicity of arrangement of a suitable insulating housing fortheheated portions of the press. when printing with the apparatus shown in Fig. l0,'a web W is fed from a suitable supply roll 95 about a guide roller 99 and passes substantially vertically downwardly between the printing and impression cylinders of the'two printing units A and B are then about suitable guide rollers 91 to a rewind roll 98.

The Fig. 11 arrangement is similar to one of the units A or B shown in Fig. 10.- However, the web is fed in a reverse direction from supply roll 95 to rewind roll 98. Rollers 92 and 93 are shown of the same diameter and are operated at different surface speeds in any convenient manner; and a doctor blade hopper 99 is provided for the thermoplastic ink supply.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a modification of my improved printing apparatus for thermoplastic inks which-includes-thesame essential elements illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11. However, the ap- I W may be fed in the direction indicated by'the arrowhead. The plate cylinder MI is preferably heated and receives ink in the desired amounts from a large ink-applyingrnember or form roller I92. This form roller I92 has a diameter substantially twice that of the plate cylinder Ill but is rotated at the same surface speed as said plate cylinder; and .is cooled in any convenient manner, such as by the means illustrated and described above in connection with Fig. 1'. It preferably has an outside or surface cover I93 of some suitable resilient material such as rubber. A film of ink of the desired thickness is transferred to the resilient: surface I98 of the form roller I92 by means of a suitable coating roller I94 which is arranged to rotate, in either a forward or reverse direction, in a bath of the heated and molten thermoplasticink contai ed within a suitable heated fountain housing ll.

- Said coating roller I 94 may be a normal coating areplaced in a singl press room, the heat created by the heated inking system will be considerable.

' In Fig. 10 I have shown a somewhat modified form'of apparatuswhich includes a basic printing unit comprising an impression cylinder 99, a

platecylinder 9|, a large form roller 92 and an ink applyingcylinder 93. The impression cylinder 99 may be cooled in the manner described above, and the remaining cylinders 9|, 92 and a heated. In this construction, .lprefer to em-- roller, or may be provided with theusual inlayer of ink'is regulated by means of a conventional doctor blade I99 adjustably mounted on the fountain housing Ill. Thus, a film of ink I is transferred from the coating roller I94 tothe resilient surface of the of the desired thickness form roller I92 and, since said form roller. I92 is cooled and of large diameter, the thermo lastic ink will have suflicient timein passing from roller I94 .to the printing cylinder have its viscosity increased to the it will be transferred in the desired II" to set or point where manner and the ' 2,sa7,sse

thickness of film to the heated type of said printing cylinder IOI,

While, as 1 have indicated above, a sufdcient I at a position between the plate cylinder IN and the coating roller I04 in the direction of rotation of the form roller I02. In Fig. 4 I have shown a heated doctor blade I01 which is also adjustably attached to the fountain housing I05 on an extension I08 of one wall thereof which constitutes a means for returning any excess thermoplastic ink which may tend to accumulate on the doctor blade I01 to the fountain housing I05. In Fig. 5 I have shown the doctor blade I01 on av somewhat larger scale and it will be noted that said doctor blade, which may be heated in any convenient manner, is heated by means of a plurality of electrical resistance heaters H provided in a holder III in which the blade I01 is mounted and adapted to be heated by conduction. The doctor blade I01 is set at such an angle and pressure withrespect to the resilief surface I03 of the form roller I02 that it will allow a thin film of ink to pass therebeyond and tend to have a spreading action so that the ink remaining on the surface after contact with the plate cylinder will be spread over and applied to the portions from which ink has been. removed. Both of the doctor blades I06 and I01 may be oscillated or reciprocated in the usual manner, if desired. ated as a reverse roller coater, doctor. blade I06 may be omitted and doctor blade I01 moved to the other wall of the fountain I as shown in dotted lines; then the roller I04 levels out the ink remaining on the surface and applies additional ink, while the heated blade I01 regulates the film thickness. I

In Fig. '6 I have shown a doctor roller II2 mounted on a pair of arms H3 and adapted to be used instead of the doctor blade I01 described above. This doctor roller II2 may be heated in any convenient manner, such as by means of a plurality of electrical resistance or strip heaters H4, and is set with respect to the surface of the form roller I02 to cause a suitable spreading of the length of the surface form film throughout exposed to the bar.

Any of the forms of construction of the doctor blade, bar or roller described above functions effectively to smooth and spread the ink remaining on the form roller I02 after contact with the heated type on the plate cylinder IOI and prior to a subsequent film-applying operation by the coating roller I04. It will be understood that the entire heated portion of the apparatus, to the .left of the web W in Fig. 4, may also be enclosed ina suitable insulated housing, if desired. How-- ever, due to the use of the relatively large form roller I02 and the cooling thereof and the reduction in the-number of heated rolls, the need for such enclosure is minimized.

Although I have described several forms of my invention and in each have explained its particular utility in connection with thermoplastic or hot melt inks, it will be apparent that many of the essential features may be used in printing apparatus generally, and any of the forms of apparatus described may be used in conjunction with conventional inks or inks other than thermoplastic inks. For example, with the construction shown in Fig. 9, inks containing particularly volatile or low-boiling solvents could be used and the housing-83 would provide an effective means for maintaining an atmosphere of volatile solvents about the entire inking mechanism. However, it

the apparatus, it would be desirable to cool all of the cylinders within the housing and omit the heating thereof. Various other changes may be When the roller I04 is opermade in the construction, and certain features thereof may be employed without others, with out departing from my invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

' thermoplastic inks which are liquid when heated the ink remaining on the surface in the manner 1 I01. The roller II2 may be a smooth surfaced metal roller which is in pressure contact with the resilient surface I03 so as to produce the desired spreading action.

In Figs. '1 and 8 I have shown a further modification for the doctor bar. This doctor bar comprises an elongated bar I I5 which may be heated by suitable heating elements H6 and has a uniformly ridged or striated outside surface H1. The ridged or striated outside surface may be formed in any desired manner, such as by closely winding wire I I8 of a predetermined gauge about the surface of the bar. When a meter bar or doctor bar of this character is held'in contact with the resilient surface of the form roller I02 in the position of the doctor blade I01 (Fig. 4),

the small grooves formed by thewires IIO will What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for the typographic printing of thermoplastic inks which are liquid when heated and solid when cooled, comprising an impression cylinder; a heated type cylinder; and means for applying a uniform film of.) the thermoplastic ink to the type of said type cylinder, such ink applying means including a resilient surfaced form roller having a diameter at least equal to the diameter of said type cylinder, and means for cooling the surface of said form roller.

'2. Apparatus for the typographic-printing of and solid when cooled, comprising an impression cylinder; a heated type cylinder; means for applying a uniform film of the thermoplastic ink to the type of said type cylinder, such ink apply- I ing means including a resilient surfaced form roller arranged in cooperative relation with said type cylinder for transferring ink directly thereto and having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said type cylinder, and a plurality of heated metal ink milling and applying rollers arranged in an aligned series beside said form roller; and means for circulating a heating medium first through said type cylinder and then through said metal ink milling and applying rollers.

3. Apparatus for the typographic printing of thermoplastic inks which are liquid when heated andsolid when cooled, comprising an impression cylinder; a heated type cylinder; means forapplying a uniform film of the thermoplastic ink to the type of said type cylinder, such ink applying means including a resilient surfaced form roller having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said type cylinder, and a plurality of heated metal ink milling and applying rollers ar'- ranged in an aligned series beside said form roller; and means for circulating acooling medium through said form roller.

4. Apparatus for the typographic printing of thermoplastic inks which are liquid when heated and, solid when cooled, comprising an impression cylinder; a heated type cylinder; and means for applying a uniform film of the thermoplastic ink to the type of said type cylinder, such ink applying means including a form roller of greater diameter than said type cylinder, means for cooling said form roller, and means for redistributing the ink remaining onthe surface of said form roller after contact with the heated type.

5. A method of typographic printing with an ink which is liquid when heated and solid when cooled, comprising melting a quantity of such ink and applying it-in a uniform film of-predetermined thickness to the surface of an ink applying member, causing the applied film at least partially'to'set on said surface, bringing the thus set of -ink intocontact with a heated typo-- graphic printing member so as to cause a film of ink to be transferred thereto, and impressing the thus inked printing member upon the material to be printed.

6. Apparatus for typ graphic printing with thermoplastic inks which are liquid when heated and solid when cooled, comprising an impression cylinder; a heated type cylinder; and means for applying a uniform film of the thermoplastic ink to the type of said type cylinder, such ink-applying'means including aform roller having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of. said type cylinder, means for cooling said form roller, and means for redistributing the ink remaining on the surface of said form roller after contact with the heated type.

7. Apparatus for typographic printing with thermoplasticinks which are liquid when heated and solid when cooled, comprising an impression cylinder: 'a heated type cylinder; and means for applying a uniform film of the thermoplastic ink' to the type of saidtype cylinder, such ink-applying means including a form roller having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said type cylinder, means forcooling said form roller, roller means for applying a substantially uniform film of the thermoplastic ink to said form roller,

and a heated doctor roller arranged in cooperative relation with respect to the surface of said form roller for redistributing the ink remaining on the surface of said form roller after contact with the heated type.

9. Apparatus for typographic printing with thermoplastic inks which are liquid when heated A and solid when cooled, comprising an impression cylinder; a heated type cylinder; and means for applyinga uniform film of the thermoplastic ink to the type of said type cylinder, such ink-applying means including a form roller having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said type cylinder, means for cooling said form roller, roller means for applying a substantially uniform film of thermoplastic ink to said form roller, and a doctor blade arranged in cooperative relation with respect to the surface of said form roller in a position between said type cylinder and said rollen means for redistributing the ink on the surface of saidform roller after contact with the type.

, WILLIAMEGRUPE. 

